Report: Georgia technology jobs increase, but state needs more talent to fill open positions

Technology employment opportunities in Georgia are increasing, but the state continues to need more talent to meet the growing demand. That’s according to a Technology Association of Georgia report released Wednesday that focuses on the current state of Georgia’s technology industry. The report was unveiled during the Georgia Technology Summit at the Cobb Galleria Centre.

The report says the state’s technology sector added close to 6,000 new jobs last year. It also says Georgia companies that produce technology products and provide technology services generated an economic impact of more than $113 billion dollars in industry sales in 2011. Tino Mantella is president of the Technology Association of Georgia:

“The momentum is building in Georgia’s technology community, and other states are starting to take notice.”

But Mantella says to become one of the top five states for technology and to meet the growing demand for thousands of available technology positions, the state needs to overcome several challenges. He says one of the challenges is increasing the number of students who are prepared for science, technology, engineering and math careers.

“To remain competitive as a state Georgia must not only maintain current graduation levels, but it’s imperative that we produce an additional 250,000 graduates over the next eight years.”

Mantella says more technology companies need to offer internships, apprenticeships and undertake greater recruiting efforts to keep those graduates from leaving the state. He also says there is a need for a comprehensive state technology policy and greater access to venture capital.